Ten new headspace youth mental health services will begin operating by the end of the year, with the announcement by the Federal Government of the selection of the lead agencies for operation.


The Australian Government has committed to providing $133.3 million over four years from 2010-11 for the headspace program.

The lead agencies were independently selected following an open Expression of Interest process by the headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation. The Foundation has as its members the University of Melbourne, Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Research Institute, the Australian Psychological Society, Principals Australia and the Australian General Practice Network.

 

The ten new headspace services will include three sites in Queensland (Nundah and Inala in Brisbane, and Cairns), two in NSW (Parramatta and Shoalhaven) two in Victoria (Bendigo and Collingwood) and one each in Tasmania (Hobart), South Australia (Noarlunga) and Western Australia (Perth).  Each will receive a $300,000 grant to establish a headspace service, with ongoing funding to support the operation of the sites.

The headspace services will provide information, promote early detection and offer holistic care tailored to young people between the ages of 12 and 25 in the areas of mental health, physical health, alcohol and drug use, and social and vocational support.

Up to 20 more headspace services will be launched by mid-2013 with priority given to areas experiencing social disadvantage or where factors such as youth suicide and substance abuse indicate an urgent need for youth mental health services. 


For more information about the national headspace program, see http://www.headspace.org.au/.